As the day for presentation of the State budget for 2008-09 is fast approaching, leaders of various political parties have started making representations to Governor Rameshwar Thakur for inclusion of their proposals in the budget. According to State Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao, the budget will be presented sometime during the first half of March.
On Friday, some Congress leaders called on the Governor and made a representation to him. Prominent among them were former Ministers R V Deshpande and H M Revanna. When contacted, Deshpande said that he had urged the Governor to give priority for utilisation of human resources, infrastructure development, education, health and Information Technology.
In a memorandum, he has urged the Governor to accord top priority for easing traffic congestion in Bangalore City, completing the approach road as well as a railway line to the new international airport.
Deshpande has also requested that an 8.5 km-long Technotrack road, which was sanctioned by the previous regime, be taken up.
Stating that the RITES has completed a survey for the Tadri port in Uttar Kannada district, Deshpande urged the Governor to allot sufficient funds for developing it as a world class port. The KIADB has acquired about 1800 acre for the purpose.
Referring to the Bellikere Airport in the same district, he has requested the Governor to sanction an approaching road to the port.
Deshpande has also urged the Governor to pay sufficient attention for completing the airports at Gulbarga, Bijapur, Mysore, Hassan and Karwar.
The Congress leader has also underscored the need to set up 20 vocational training institutes in the district headquarters, for training unemployed youth.
He has also pleaded that a committee for development of skill among the unemployed youth be constituted.
While appealing to the Governor to reduce the interest rate on farm loans sanctioned by cooperative institutions from the present four per cent to two per cent, Deshpande has also sought free supply of power - up to 10 HP - to farmers.
Developmental works
Former minister Revanna is said to have appealed to the Governor to sanction at least Rs 20 crore to the Kaginele Trust for taking up various developmental works. Last year, a sum of Rs 3 crore was sanctioned to the Trust.
Revanna, who led a delegation of Kumbar community leaders to the Raj Bhavan, urged the Governor to give directions for handing over four acres of land sanctioned to the community for setting up educational institutions in Anekal taluk. The proposal is said to be pending with the Principal Secretary to the Revenue Department. 
Revanna has also requested that the process of setting up office of Deputy Superintendent of Police in the erstwhile Magadi Assembly segment be expedited. The Government has already sanctioned the office of the DySP